A local restaurant known for giving its patrons a reliably excellent dining experience wants to make sure local seniors have a reliably excellent transportation service in Jasper. 

Ashley and Mike Kliewer, owners of The Raven Bistro, have teamed up with staff at the Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge for a fundraiser that promises to pair delicious flavours with community spirit. 

On March 10, the Kliewers are hosting an all-day fundraising event at The Raven, wherein they will donate 100 per cent of food and beverage sales to the purchase of a new community bus. 

“Let’s face it, we’re all going to need that bus eventually,” laughed Ashley Kliewer, whose kitchen has been pumping out pristine plates all February thanks to a can’t-miss lunch promotion. 

In fact, the Seniors Bus is meant for all community members right now—ambassadors of the service want to make sure Jasperites know the Alpine Traveller (the recently-adopted moniker for the bus) is for everybody. Christina Richards, resident coordinator for the Evergreens Foundation, is promoting the twice-monthly trips to Hinton ($20) and the Friday town runs ($7) to all members of the public.

“We’re open to everyone,” Richards said. “It’s a great way to get some shopping done if you don’t want to, or can’t, drive.”

The Alpine Traveller has long helped Jasperites with their transportation needs. Janet Barker, who turned 91 in January, is one of many local seniors who’ve spent countless hours knitting, baking and raffling to raise money, bit by bit, to ensure the service has been available. Last year, the Jasper Seniors Society passed on that nest egg—worth about $75,000—to the Evergreens Foundation. Since then, thanks to the donations of local businesses and the annual Cookie Walk, which raked in $4,000 this past December, the current kitty stands at just over $100,000. Their goal for a new bus and a reserve maintenance fund is $180,000, according to Richards.

“We’re getting there,” she said.

That’s thanks in no small part to the Kliewers, who are currently trying to squeak in more reservations for their March 10 event. The couple got the idea for the all-day fundraiser after they were approached by Richards with a request for a donation.

“The Evergreens Foundation does an amazing job of keeping our elders connected to our community,” Ashley said. “This bus will allow them to continue to facilitate adventures.”

The Raven is also getting a fundraising bump from Sysco Foods, who’ve agreed to donate a portion of the groceries, with which Ashley and her team will create culinary magic. 

“It’s extremely generous,” Richards said. “We’re so grateful they’re helping us.”

Find the Alpine Traveller’s bus schedule on the Alpine Summit Evergreen Facebook page. 

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com